Light and Dark; Fear of Flying: Caught On Camera – TV review

At the end of Jim Al-Khalili's Light and Dark I was as much in the dark as 90% of the universeScience documentaries are the gift that keeps on giving – to the film makers and the TV schedules – because there rapidly comes a point in every one when the subject matter becomes completely unintelligible to anyone without a physics degree. And, as anyone with a physics degree almost certainly doesn't bother to watch these programmes because they know it all already, the way is clear for everyone to make the same documentary over and over again without any viewer being any the wiser. The only trick required is to give the impression of doing something a bit different.For as long as I have been watching TV – more than 50 years – scientists have tried to explain the mysteries of the universe to the uneducated (me). They have tried being really boring – I sat through several Open University physics lectures in the 70s when they were the only late-night telly on offer; they have tried making the programmes more populist by using advanced CGI and filming in hundreds of different exotic locations. They have have even set the wind machines on Brian Cox's hair. And still they have never approximated total clarity. They just take it in turns to fail to be understood.It's now Jim Al-Khalili's turn again. Jim has form as one of the best science broadcasters on radio and TV, and his programmes are never less than entertaining or engaging. ...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: The Guardian Culture Television & radio Reviews Science amp; radio Source Type: news